U.S. patent application number 14/650590 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-19 for monitoring installation for a monitoring area, method and computer program.
The applicant listed for this patent is ROBERT BOSCH GMBH. Invention is credited to Holger Fillbrandt, Daniel Gottschlag, Stephan Heigl, Frank Mattern, Jan Rexilius, Jan Karl Warzelhan.
Application Number | 20150332569 14/650590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49726796 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150332569 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Warzelhan; Jan Karl ; et
al. |
November 19, 2015 |
MONITORING INSTALLATION FOR A MONITORING AREA, METHOD AND COMPUTER
PROGRAM
Abstract
In spacious areas or building complexes, it is customary to use
monitoring systems that comprise monitoring cameras and other
monitoring sensors that record monitoring data and forward said
monitoring data to a monitoring control centre or the like for the
purpose of evaluation. Depending on the size of the monitored area,
the complexity of the monitoring system can increase to a great
extent. Upwards of a certain size of monitoring area, it is
necessary for several monitoring persons also to be employed in
parallel in order to inspect the monitoring data. A monitoring
installation 1 for a monitoring area B having a plurality of
monitoring stations 3a, b, c, d for users 6a, b, c, d of the
monitoring installation 1, wherein the monitoring installation 1 is
designed to assign a respective user ID ID.sub.--6a, ID.sub.--6b,
ID.sub.--6c, ID.sub.--6d to the users 6a, b, c, d of the monitoring
installation 1, wherein the monitoring stations 3a, b, c, d each
have a display device 8a, b, c, d, wherein the monitoring stations
3a, b, c, d are designed to present a user interface 9a, b, c for
the monitoring installation 1 having a model 10 of the monitoring
area 10 on the display device 8a, b, c, d, and having a
collaboration device 12, wherein the collaboration device 12 is
designed to show a first of the user IDs ID_6a from a first
monitoring station 3a together with an associated piece of user
information as collaboration data with the model 10 on the user
interface 9a, b, c of at least one second monitoring station 3b, c,
is proposed.
Inventors: |
Warzelhan; Jan Karl; (Bad
Salzdetfurth Ot Heinde, DE) ; Gottschlag; Daniel;
(Nuernberg, DE) ; Mattern; Frank; (Lauf An Der
Pegnitz, DE) ; Rexilius; Jan; (Hannover, DE) ;
Fillbrandt; Holger; (Bad Salzdetfurth, DE) ; Heigl;
Stephan; (Hannover, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH |
Stuttgart |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
49726796 |
Appl. No.: |
14/650590 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
December 10, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/076118 |
371 Date: |
June 9, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/183 20130101;
G08B 25/14 20130101; G08B 27/003 20130101; G06F 30/20 20200101;
G08B 13/19682 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08B 13/196 20060101
G08B013/196; G08B 25/14 20060101 G08B025/14; H04N 7/18 20060101
H04N007/18; G06F 17/50 20060101 G06F017/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 10, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 222 661.3 |
Claims
1. A monitoring installation for a monitoring area, the monitoring
installation comprising: a plurality of monitoring stations for
users of the monitoring installation, the monitoring installation
configured to assign a user ID to each of the users of the
monitoring installation, the monitoring stations each having a
display device, the monitoring stations configured to present a
user interface of the monitoring installation with a model of the
monitoring area on the display device, a collaboration device, the
collaboration device configured to display a first of the user IDs
of a first monitoring station together with an assigned item of
user information as collaboration data with the model on the user
interface of at least one second monitoring station.
2. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
collaboration device has a plurality of collaboration modules, the
collaboration modules assigned to the monitoring stations and
connected to one another directly or via a server to distribute the
collaboration data among one another.
3. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
monitoring installation has a plurality of safety devices, the user
information of the collaboration data comprising an item of status
information relating to the user having the first user ID with
respect to the safety devices.
4. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
collaboration data are displayed in the correct position in the
model by virtue of the collaboration data being graphically
assigned to the safety devices in the model.
5. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
transmitting module is assigned to the monitoring stations, with
the result that the user having the first user ID can transmit a
message as user information with his user ID as collaboration data
to one, some or all users of the collaboration device.
6. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
collaboration data are displayed in the correct position in the
model by virtue of the collaboration data being graphically
assigned to the monitoring station containing the user having the
first user ID in the model.
7. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
message comprises monitoring data relating to the monitoring
installation.
8. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an annotation module assigned to the monitoring
stations, with the result that the user having the first user ID
can add an annotation as user information with his user ID to the
model.
9. The monitoring installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first monitoring station is in the form of a mobile monitoring
station, the user information comprising an item of location
information, the collaboration data being displayed in the correct
position in the model by virtue of the collaboration data being
graphically assigned to a position of the mobile monitoring station
in the model.
10. A method for operating the monitoring installation as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the collaboration device displays collaboration
data comprising a first of the user IDs and an assigned item of
user information together with the model on the user interface of
at least one second monitoring station.
11. A computer program having program code that when executed on a
computer causes a collaboration device to display collaboration
data comprising a first user ID and an assigned item of user
information together with a model of a monitoring area on the user
interface of at least one second monitoring station.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a monitoring installation for a
monitoring area, having a plurality of monitoring stations for
users of the monitoring installation, the monitoring installation
being designed to assign a user ID to each of the users of the
monitoring installation, the monitoring stations each having a
display device, the monitoring stations being designed to present a
user interface of the monitoring installation with a model of the
monitoring area on the display device. The invention also relates
to a method and a computer program for the monitoring installation
for this purpose.
[0002] In spacious areas or building complexes, it is conventional
to use monitoring systems comprising monitoring cameras and other
monitoring sensors which record monitoring data and forward the
latter to a monitoring center or the like for evaluation. Depending
on the size of the area monitored, the complexity of the monitoring
system may increase greatly. As of a certain size of the monitoring
area, it is necessary to also use a plurality of monitoring persons
in a parallel manner for the purpose of controlling the monitoring
data.
[0003] The document DE 10 2007 054 819 A1 which probably forms the
closest prior art discloses such a monitoring system which is
designed to monitor a plurality of monitoring areas and can be
controlled by at least one human observer. The monitoring system
perceives the human observer as part of the monitoring system and
it is proposed to provide a state detection module which determines
the monitoring state of the observer on the basis of optically
detected state signals from the observer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A monitoring installation which is designed and/or suitable
for monitoring a monitoring area is proposed. The monitoring area
may be in the form of a contiguous monitoring area or alternatively
in the form of a fragmented or divided monitoring area having a
plurality of sections. The monitoring area may be, for example,
public buildings or spaces, for example libraries, hospitals,
airports, prisons, railway stations, inner cities, venues etc.
Alternatively, the monitoring areas may also be private or
commercial spaces or buildings, for example fabrication plants,
storage spaces, general business complexes etc.
[0005] The monitoring installation is connected or can be connected
to a plurality of safety devices which can preferably be subdivided
into monitoring sensors and monitoring actuators. The monitoring
sensors can be understood as meaning, in particular, monitoring
cameras, motion detectors, access control devices, fire detectors,
temperature sensors, emergency call indicators etc. The monitoring
actuators are in the form of turnstiles, fire doors, escape doors,
escalators etc., for example. In particular, the monitoring
installation may be in the form of a video monitoring system, a
building management system, an access control system or an
emergency call system. The monitoring installation is in the form
of a computer network system, in particular.
[0006] The monitoring installation comprises a plurality of
monitoring stations for users of the monitoring installation. The
users are in the form of monitoring personnel, in particular. The
monitoring installation, in particular the monitoring stations,
is/are designed to assign a unique user ID to each of the users of
the monitoring installation. The user ID makes it possible to refer
to the user of the monitoring stations and not only to the
monitoring station as such. In particular, the user is allocated
the same user ID if the user changes from one monitoring station to
a next monitoring station. In the simplest case, the user ID may be
in the form of the real user name of the user. Alternatively, the
user ID may be selected to be an avatar or a company number.
[0007] The monitoring stations each have a display device. It is
optionally possible for further monitoring stations to be
integrated in the monitoring installation, which monitoring
stations have an alternative design. The monitoring stations are
designed, in terms of programming and/or circuitry, to present a
user interface of the monitoring installation with a model of the
monitoring area on the display device.
[0008] The user interface may be, in particular, a graphical user
interface. In particular, the graphical user interface allows
interaction with the monitoring station via graphical symbols. The
graphical symbols may be controlled, for example, using a pointing
device such as a mouse. The model may be in the form of a 2-D model
(for example from the bird's eye perspective) or in the form of a
3-D model of the monitoring area. It is therefore possible for the
model to be presented as an outline of the monitoring area, as a
three-dimensional tier or plane of the monitoring area or for the
monitoring area as a 3-D model in its entirety. The model allows
the users to quickly assign events in the monitoring area to a
position in the monitoring area.
[0009] The invention proposes that the monitoring installation has
a collaboration device which is designed to display a first of the
user IDs of a first monitoring station together with an item of
user information assigned to the first user ID as collaboration
data together with and/or at the same time as the model on the user
interface of at least one second monitoring station.
[0010] It should be pointed out that the role of the user having
the first user ID can be assumed at each monitoring station. Within
the scope of the invention, a user having a second, third or nth
user ID is taken as a basis for displaying the collaboration data
for a second, third or nth monitoring station.
[0011] The invention is based on the consideration that, in the
case of previous monitoring systems, the monitoring personnel works
in a parallel and independent manner, for example according to
particular work instructions and divisions or particular monitoring
areas, the monitoring systems being designed, for example, in such
a manner that each user independently evaluates images from
monitoring cameras or reacts to incoming alarms. The advantage of
the invention is that communication between a plurality of users of
the monitoring installation is enabled in the system architecture
of the monitoring installation in order to be able to better manage
the monitoring tasks by means of collaboration. The invention also
allows the tasks which arise to be able to be distributed among the
monitoring personnel as required. For example, no tasks may arise
in one area and tasks may accordingly arise more in another area,
which cannot be (sufficiently) managed by a user allocated to said
tasks. In preferred embodiments, the invention makes it possible
for tasks to be actively forwarded using the user information or
for overloading of individual users of the monitoring personnel to
be able to be detected by the other users. The system therefore
helps to be able to prioritize tasks and to make working/monitoring
more efficient.
[0012] In particular, the collaboration device may be activated by
the user by virtue of the user inputting the user information to
the collaboration device or selecting said user information or can
automatically become active by virtue of the monitoring
installation determining the user information relating to the user
and communicating it to at least one other user by means of the
visualization.
[0013] In this case, it is particularly advantageous that the
collaboration data are displayed together with the model of the
monitoring area on the user interface since the collaboration data
can be grasped by the users in this manner during monitoring
operation. There is no need to change from the user interface
having the model to a list display for displaying user data, for
example. The collaboration device therefore means that the users
can receive user information from the other users as a result of
the collaboration data being visualized on the user interface
together with the model.
[0014] If the system architecture is considered, it is preferred
that the collaboration device has a plurality of collaboration
modules, the collaboration modules being assigned to the monitoring
stations. The collaboration modules are either connected to one
another directly or are connected to one another via a server using
data technology in order to distribute the collaboration data among
one another. In this case, the collaboration modules may be, for
example, in the form of clients to the server which receives
collaboration data from the collaboration modules and transmits
said data to the latter. Alternatively, it is also possible for the
collaboration modules to be arranged in a peer-to-peer architecture
and to operate without a server.
[0015] In one preferred refinement of the invention, the monitoring
installation has a user management module for managing the users,
which user management module is designed to assign the user ID to
each user of the monitoring installation. The user ID is therefore
centrally allocated by the monitoring installation and is used by
the collaboration device. The collaboration device therefore forms
an integral part of the monitoring installation and accesses data
stocks of the monitoring installation.
[0016] In one preferred refinement of the invention, the monitoring
installation comprises a plurality of safety devices, the user
information of the collaboration data comprising an item of status
information relating to the user having the first user ID with
respect to the safety device.
[0017] If a monitoring camera is referred to as one of the safety
devices, for example, an item of status information relating to the
user may comprise the information stating that the user having the
first user ID is currently displaying the monitoring images from
the monitoring camera on the display device of his monitoring
station. In this manner, the other users are informed that that
section of the monitoring area which is assigned to the monitoring
camera is being checked by the user having the first user ID, with
the result that the other users can concentrate on other sections
of the monitoring area. This effectively avoids duplicate
monitoring of a section.
[0018] Another exemplary embodiment relates to an item of status
information relating to the control of one of the safety devices,
in which case the practice of displaying the collaboration data on
the user interface for the other users ensures that the situation
is excluded in which two users simultaneously wish to control the
same safety device. The control may be both the control of a
monitoring sensor, for example a monitoring camera, in particular a
PTZ camera (pan-tilt-zoom camera), and the control of a monitoring
actuator, for example an escape door, a turnstile or the like.
[0019] The status information may also be the information stating
that the user having the first user ID is processing an alarm
message from one of the safety devices, thus ensuring that there is
no duplicate processing of the alarm message.
[0020] The status information is particularly preferably
automatically determined and visualized by the collaboration
device. The collaboration device particularly preferably uses data
from the monitoring installation to determine the status
information.
[0021] In one preferred development of the invention, the
collaboration data are displayed in the correct position in the
model by virtue of the collaboration data being graphically
assigned to the safety devices in the model. The graphical
assignment can be carried out using text fields, for example, which
assignment is connected to the graphically presented safety device
via a graphical connecting element, for example a connecting line.
However, provision may also be made for the collaboration data to
be directly entered in the graphical presentation of the safety
device.
[0022] In one possible development of the invention, a transmitting
module is assigned to the monitoring stations, which transmitting
module forms part of the collaboration device and particularly
preferably forms part of the collaboration module. The transmitting
module makes it possible for the user having the first user ID to
transmit a message as user information with his user ID as
collaboration data to another user, to some other users or to all
other users of the collaboration device. This makes it possible for
the user to deliberately transmit a message to another user, in
particular a named user, a named user group or as a "broadcast" to
all other users of the monitoring installation.
[0023] In principle, it is possible that the collaboration data
comprising the user ID and the message from the user ID are
displayed together with the model at any desired position on the
user interface. In one possible development of the invention, the
monitoring stations are entered in the model, in which case
provision may preferably be made for the collaboration data to be
displayed in the correct position by virtue of the collaboration
data being graphically assigned to the position of the monitoring
station of the transmitting user in the model.
[0024] In one preferred development of the invention, the message
comprises monitoring data relating to the safety devices, for
example images or image sequences from one or more monitoring
cameras as safety devices. In this development, it is possible for
a user to send work-related information to another user as a
message. For example, the message can be used to forward an alarm
message to other users for processing. This development also makes
it possible to assist with a division of labor among the users by
virtue of monitoring data or alarm messages being forwarded to
other users in whose working area the processing of particular
events falls. Another advantage arises if users having different
user rights are working in the monitoring installation. A user, as
the user having the first user ID who is not authorized to examine
recorded monitoring material, in particular video material, for
example, can communicate directly with a user having this
authorization in order to request further information. In this
context, it is also possible for object information to be released
for the user having the first user ID by the other user depending
on the situation.
[0025] In one possible development of the invention, an annotation
module is assigned to the monitoring stations. In particular, the
collaboration device, in particular each collaboration module,
comprises one of the annotation modules. The annotation module is
designed such that the user having the first user ID can
graphically add an annotation as user information with his user ID
to the model. The annotation module makes it possible for the user
to mark areas in the model and to enrich these areas with visual
and/or textual information. This marking is transmitted by the
collaboration device to at least one, some or all monitoring
stations belonging to other users and is accordingly visualized on
the display devices. In this manner, the user can take note of
current events such as repair work in the model, for example.
[0026] Provision is preferably made for the annotations to have a
defined validity period, with the result that said annotations are
masked after a predefined time and can optionally be restored when
reproducing stored information. Provision is preferably made for
the annotations to be able to be processed or commented on by the
other users.
[0027] Provision is particularly preferably made for the monitoring
stations to be in the form of stationary devices which are arranged
in a stationary manner. An alternative refinement of the invention
provides for the first monitoring station to be in the form of a
mobile monitoring station, the user information comprising an item
of location information, the collaboration data being displayed in
the correct position in the model by virtue of the collaboration
data being graphically assigned to the position of the mobile
monitoring station in the model.
[0028] The invention also relates to a method and a computer
program having program code means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Further features, advantages and effects of the invention
emerge from the following description of a preferred exemplary
embodiment of the invention and from the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a monitoring installation as
an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a graphical illustration of a user interface of
the monitoring installation in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] FIG. 1 shows, in the form of a schematic block diagram, a
monitoring installation 1 as an exemplary embodiment of the
invention. The monitoring installation 1 is connected to a
plurality of safety devices 2 or comprises the latter, the safety
devices 2 being able to be in the form of monitoring sensors or
monitoring actuators. The safety devices 2 are distributed in a
monitoring area B. The monitoring area B may be in the form of a
building complex or the like, for example.
[0033] The monitoring installation 1 comprises a plurality of
monitoring stations 3a, b, c which are designed for users 6a, b, c
of the monitoring installation 1, in particular in the form of
workstations for the users 6a, b, c. The monitoring stations 3a, b,
c are connected to one another and to a monitoring center 5 via a
network 4. The monitoring center 5 may be, for example, in the form
of a server in the form of a computer; the monitoring stations 3a,
b, c may be in the form of clients likewise in the form of further
computers. Alternatively, it is also possible for the monitoring
installation 1 to be in the form of a peer-to-peer network. The
monitoring installation 1 may have further identical or else
differently designed monitoring stations 3a, b, c.
[0034] Each of the monitoring stations 3a, b, c may be operated by
a user 6a, b, c, the monitoring installation 1 being designed to
assign a unique user ID to the users 6a, b, c upon registration
with the monitoring stations 3a, b, c. For this purpose, the
monitoring center 5 has a user management means 7, for example.
Alternatively, the monitoring stations 3a, b, c may have user
modules which assign unique user IDs to the users 6a, b, c.
[0035] The monitoring stations 3a, b, c each have a display device
8a, b, c, for example a screen, a graphical user interface 9a, b, c
being represented or being able to be represented with a model 10
of the monitoring area B of the monitoring installation 1 on the
display device 8a, b, c during operation of the monitoring
installation 1 or the monitoring stations 3a, b, c.
[0036] The monitoring stations 3a, b, c make it possible to display
the model 10 of the monitoring area B and possibly messages or
monitoring data from the safety devices 2 on the display devices
8a, b, c for the users 6a, b, c. At the monitoring stations 3a, b,
c, the monitoring data may be processed and reactions may possibly
be triggered, for example control of a monitoring actuator, alarm
activation, notification of assistants or emergency services
etc.
[0037] The monitoring installation 1 comprises a collaboration
device 12 having a plurality of collaboration modules 13a, b, c, a
collaboration module 13a, b, c respectively being assigned to a
monitoring station 3a, b, c. The collaboration modules 13a, b, c
may be connected to one another via the network 4 and the
monitoring center 5 using data technology. Alternatively, the
collaboration device 12 has its own server or the collaboration
modules 13a, b, c are in the form of a peer-to-peer network.
[0038] The collaboration device 12 is designed to display the user
ID of the user 6a of a first monitoring station 3a together with an
assigned item of user information as collaboration data with the
model 10 on the user interface 9b, c of at least one second
monitoring station 3b, c. Optionally, the first user ID is also
displayed together with the user information on the monitoring
station 3a which is operated at that time by the user 6 having the
first user ID.
[0039] The collaboration device 12 therefore makes it possible for
user information assigned to the user 6 having the first user ID of
the monitoring station 3a to be displayed on other monitoring
stations 3b, c. It is therefore possible, on the one hand, for the
other users 6b, c of the other monitoring stations 3b, c to be able
to discern from the user information what the user 6 of the
monitoring station 3a is currently doing. Alternatively or
additionally, it is possible for the user 6a having the first user
ID of the monitoring station 3a to send messages or annotations to
the model 10 to the users 6b, c of the other monitoring station 3b,
c as user information which is assigned to the user 6a of the
monitoring station 3a as a result of the first user ID. The
combination of the user ID and the user information is also
referred to collaboration data below.
[0040] In a first variant, the collaboration data are automatically
determined or generated by the collaboration device 12, this being
the case, for example, when an item of status information relating
to the user 6a having the first user ID with respect to the safety
devices 2 is displayed as user information on one or more of the
display devices 8b, c of the other monitoring stations 3b, c. For
example, the status information can state that the user 6a having
the first user ID is currently checking monitoring images from a
monitoring camera as a safety device 2 or that the user 6a having
the first user ID is currently controlling a safety device 2.
Safety devices 2 can be controlled, on the one hand, in safety
actuators, for example controllable doors, turnstiles etc. However,
it is also possible for the fact that the user 6a having the first
user ID is controlling a PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) monitoring camera as a
safety device 2 to be displayed as the status information. This
makes it possible to exclude "duplicate control" of a safety device
2 by two users 6a, b, c.
[0041] Optionally, the collaboration modules 13a, b, c may each
comprise a transmitting module 14a, b, c, with the result that the
user 6a having the first user ID can optionally transmit a message
as user information together with his user ID as collaboration data
to one, some or all other users 6b, c of the collaboration device
12 or monitoring installation 1.
[0042] In a further addition or alternative, the collaboration
modules 13a, b, c comprise an annotation module 15a, b, c, with the
result that the user 6a having the first user ID can add an
annotation 20 (FIG. 2) as user information with his user ID to the
model 10. In this manner, the user 6a can provide all users 6b, c
with an item of information at the same time.
[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary
embodiment of the user interface 9c of the user 6c, in which the
model 10 is presented in the form of a building outline in this
case.
[0044] Examples of collaboration data are applied line by line in a
first text block 16 displayed below the model 10 in the user
interface 9c, the collaboration data each comprising the user ID
and an item of user information XXXX relating to one of the users
6a, b, c.
[0045] The first line of the text block 16 indicates the user 6a as
the user ID and records, as user information XXXX, the status
information stating that the user 6a is moving a monitoring camera
17 as an example of a safety device or is checking its monitoring
images. These collaboration data may also be graphically presented
in the correct position in the model 10, said collaboration data
being displayed in the presented viewing angle range 18 of the
monitoring camera 17.
[0046] The second line in the block 16 presents, as collaboration
data, the fact that the user 6b having the user ID ID 6b is
emitting an alarm to a second monitoring camera 19 as user
information, for example with regard to a range being exceeded, via
his transmitting module 14b. The user 6b can optionally append
further data, for example monitoring images from the monitoring
camera 19, to the collaboration data and can therefore forward them
to the other users 6a, c.
[0047] Furthermore, the annotation 20 containing the user ID (of
the user 6b in this case) and a comment (in this case: "Unknown
object. Please check") is introduced in the model 10. The
annotation 20 is entered by the user 6b in addition to or
independently of the transmitting module 14b via his annotation
module 15b and is connected to that viewing angle range 21 of the
second monitoring camera 19 in which the user 6b detected the
unknown object via a graphical connecting line.
[0048] A second text block 22 which shows a list of the users 6a,
b, c . . . n is displayed on the right-hand side. Optionally, in
addition to the stationary monitoring stations 3a, b, c, the
monitoring installation may have one or more mobile monitoring
stations 3d, the mobile monitoring station 3d being symbolically
represented in the model 10 and the user ID of the user 6d of the
mobile monitoring station 3d being displayed together with the
spatial coordinates PPPP thereof as user information.
* * * * *